vintage vs. new..

[mayserwegener]

There are also felt finishes that are no longer available. For example late 19th and early 20th Austrian Velour finishes that took over one month to produce. If you want one you have to go vintage. Also city Bowlers (also Homburgs in my opinion) are a similar case. Nobody can make a proper one today so you have to go vintage.

 

[donnc]

I will also agree that the vintage hats that are still in existence are nicer than the majority of currently available hats. I had the pleasure of handling semi-custom, Borso, new Stetson and some vintage hats all within a short time period. I was saddened with the lack of craftsmanship and lack of quality used in the complete product. Even though the store had them on sale for $60-$75 new I couldn't justify that price as the fit seemed off, the sweatbands and hats were very hard and stiff and seemed very contrived.

Anyone regularly buy used shoes or boots? Are they softer, and more comfortable? I would imagine so, but I bet they weren't when they were new! Conversely, a new shoe that's soft and comfy the first day, not likely to be as durable.

Same could be true of hats, especially the parts that are made of the same stuff (leather, that is.) I don't really like any leather sweat band, honestly, but if I must have one then it might as well be a good one that will last for a while, even if that means it's going to be a little stiff the first day.

 

[BanjoMerlin]

Anyone regularly buy used shoes or boots? Are they softer, and more comfortable? I would imagine so, but I bet they weren't when they were new! Conversely, a new shoe that's soft and comfy the first day, not likely to be as durable.

Same could be true of hats, especially the parts that are made of the same stuff (leather, that is.) I don't really like any leather sweat band, honestly, but if I must have one then it might as well be a good one that will last for a while, even if that means it's going to be a little stiff the first day.

Not a valid comparison. Leather sweatbands don't get softer with age, they dry out and get stiff and brittle. If the sweatband on a vintage hat is soft today it was at least that soft when the hat was new.

 

[Undertow]

Not a valid comparison. Leather sweatbands don't get softer with age, they dry out and get stiff and brittle. If the sweatband on a vintage hat is soft today it was at least that soft when the hat was new.

Quite right, and in fact, it's not uncommon to purchase a beautiful vintage hat only to replace the sweat and liner because they've become dry, brittle or damaged over the years.

As far as the felt is concerned, I can't pinpoint the reason, but I can say many vintage hats are softer and lighter than modern hats. That's not to say all vintage hats are of the same quality. I've been to a few "flea market" style antique shops and run into some really sad examples of quality in a vintage hat. [huh]

 

[dwebber18]

Anyone regularly buy used shoes or boots? Are they softer, and more comfortable? I would imagine so, but I bet they weren't when they were new! Conversely, a new shoe that's soft and comfy the first day, not likely to be as durable.

Same could be true of hats, especially the parts that are made of the same stuff (leather, that is.) I don't really like any leather sweat band, honestly, but if I must have one then it might as well be a good one that will last for a while, even if that means it's going to be a little stiff the first day.

When I said stiff, I really meant the sweatband felt low quality and hard, I have a couple pairs of new and used quality dress shoes, they were not hard like the soles when new. However, when I said the hat felt stiff, I mean it was a fedora that was harder than a homberg or derby(sorry I don't have much hat knowledge past fedoras). Seemed very artificial and purposely hardened to compensate for a lack of quality materials. As I understand it currently made stetsons use lower quality material, and the hat may have a hard time holding its shape without the artificial hardener that was put on it.